Kennedy Tells University of New Haven Graduates To Persevere, Push For Social Progress

WALLINGFORD — At the University of New Haven commencement Sunday, keynote speaker Edward M. Kennedy Jr. exhorted students to adapt well to unforeseen adversity and to pursue causes they were passionate about.

"Change and unpredictablity present rare opportunities to learn about yourself … being adaptable, keeping an open mind and knowing how to turn vulnerabilty into a strength will be one of your greatest skills," an animated Kennedy told students and their friends and relatives who packed the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford.

During a short address, Kennedy, who lost a leg to bone cancer at age 12, spoke about how that change affected him. Kennedy has spent his adult life as an advocate for the disabled and encouraged graduating students to join him in the cause that shaped his career as an attorney and advocate for people with disabilities.

"It's a proper frontier of civil rights. These laws are relatively new and evolving and they're just being shaped right now — it's a unique chance to make a difference in this world," he said.

Most important, Kennedy told students, making a difference is something they should all strive for.

"Find a cause that is greater than yourself. … I believe that political action can also be a tremendous lever for social change," he said.

The speech at times brought the spirit of a campaign rally to the standing room only auditorium — complete with criticism of party politics in Washington and even a cheer of "You go, Teddy!" from a student when Kennedy received his honorary degree.

After the ceremony, students were still trying to process the pivotal day.

"We're kind of speechless right now. We're just realizing it's graduation ... all at once," said Kevin Jalbert Jr., moments after he had flipped his tassel to the left. Jalbert received a degree in mechanical engineering and described the ceremony that lasted two-and-a-half hours as "inspiring."

The student speaker, class President Alexandra Hart, told her classmates: "You're leaving with a better knowledge of who you are and how you want to live your life."

"We hold the advantage, we have all the power to change the world we live in," said Hart, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and investigative services from the University of New Haven's Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. Of the 1,185 students who received degrees at two ceremonies Sunday, more had attended the Henry C. Lee college than any other school at UNH.

Also receiving honorary degrees Sunday were U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy, who was the keynote speaker at the afternoon ceremony, and former state Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper Jr. Harper left the bench at the end of last year after reaching the mandatory retirement age.